Traffic marker



y R. H. OSBRINK 1,966,678

TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Aug. 7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l PLE.E|

3! I6 27 1 L L 29 25 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND H. OSBRINK.

BY "MY ATTORNEY.

July 17, 1934. R H, 'SBR NK 1,966,678

TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Aug. 7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iT l 5i i g E i i 55IT I I 38 4av l5 60 A J M '7 59 44 w 55 43 m VENTOR. 39 57 RHYMOND H.OSBR:NK.

ATTORNEY.

R. H. OSBRINK July 17, 1934.

TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Aug. 7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR. H 0.5 BR lN K- RAYMOND ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES reserveFATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in traffic markers.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved traflicmarker having reflector signal means therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trafiic marker made oflight weight metal which is suitably reenforced to provide strength.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means forretaining reflector devices in position in traffic markers. A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide a traffic marker which ismade of metal which can be highly polished and will maintain a polishthereby eliminating the necessity of painting the marker.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a traffic marker embodying the features of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the marker shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the marker.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a modified form of traffic marker.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the marker shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section taken on line '7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of a modification of the traflic markershown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 1111 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a modification of thetrafiic marker shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have indicated atraflic marker embodying the features of my invention generally at 10.As shown the device 10 includes a body portion 12 which is preferablymade of an aluminum alloy which will not corrode and the outer surfaceof which is preferably highly polished. The alloy I prefer to useconsists of .06 parts copper; .20 parts zinc; 1.0 parts iron; .20 partsmagnesium; 4.5 parts silicon; and the remainder aluminum.

The body 12 is annular in plan and includes an arcuate side wall 13which may be a portion of a sphere, the center of which is below thebase of the device. Integral with the walls 13, I provide a centralinwardly extending boss 14 having extending downwardly therefrom a hub15 which terminates flush with the base of the device. The hub 15 isprovided with an aperture 16 which communicates with a recess 1'7 in theboss 14. A suitable bolt or the like is adapted to be positioned in theaperture 16 for securing the device 10 in position and the head of thebolt is adapted to be positioned in the recess 1'7. Surrounding the hub15 and spaced therefrom I provide a downwardly extending flange 19 whichis integral with the walls 13 and the lower end of which terminatesflush with the base of the device.

Extending from the hub and the boss 14 outwardly to the flange 19 Iprovide a plurality of strengthening ribs 20, the lower ends of whichpreferably terminate short'of the base of the device. Extending from theflange. 19 outwardly to the walls 13, I provide a plurality ofstrengthening ribs 21 the lower ends of which are preferably flush withthe base of the device.

In the side wall 13 adjacent the base of the device, I provide arecessed portion 22 which extends a portion of the distance around theperiphery of the device. In this recessed portion I provide a pluralityof apertures 23 in which refiector members 24 are adapted to bepositioned. As shown the reflector members 24 include a metal base 25having a reduced glass portion 26 extending therefrom. The reflectors 24are positioned with the glass portion 26 thereof extending through theapertures 23 and the base 25 00 engaging the inner surface of therecessed portion as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

To retain the reflector members 24 in position I provide a holder member27 which includes an arcuately shaped plate portion 28 having spacedlegs 29 extending therefrom rearwardly. These legs may also extenddownwardly as shown if desired. When the holder 2'7 is placed inposition, the plate portion 28 thereof engages the rear surface of thebases 25 of the reflector members and the rear portions of the legs 29engage the flange 19 and the bottoms of the legs 29 are preferably flushwith the base of the device while the top of the plate 28 engages thebottoms of a plurality of ribs 30 which are provided above the recessedportion 22 between the flange l9 and the walls 13.

The plate portion 28 of the holder 27 is made of metal which is slightlyflexible so it can flex 9 take Care of any irregularities in thedistance the base of the reflectors extends rearwardly, thereby assuringa pressure on all of the reflector members.

Thus it will be seen that when the device 10 is secured in an operativeposition the holder 27 will retain the reflector members 24 in position.

The outer face of the recessed portion 22 such as indicated at 31 ispreferably very highly polished to form a reflecting surface.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, I have indicated a modified form of trafflcmarker generally at 35. As shown the device 35 includes a body portion36 which like the body of the device 10 is preferably made of analuminum alloy which will not corrode and the outer surface of which ispreferably highly polished. The body 36 Y is elongated in plan withrounded ends and is arcuate in cross section and includes side Walls 37which form a hollow open bottomed shell.

Positioned adjacent the outer edges of the body I provide a plurality ofrecessed portions 38 in the bottoms ofwhich I provide apertures 39 inwhich bolts or other suitable means are adapted to be positioned forsecuring the device 35 man operative position.

Spaced from the front of the device 35, I provide a longitudinallyextending strengtheningrib 40 which is integral with the walls 37 andthe bottom of which'is flush with the base of the device.

Extending rearwardly at an angle to the rib 40 and joining the'walls 37at the curved ends I provide ribs 41,'the bottoms of which are flushwith the base of the device.

Spaced on each side of the center of the device in the front facethereof I provide a recessed portion 42 which is similar to the recessedportion 22 of the device 10. The rear surfaces of therecessed portions42 are spaced from the rib 40 as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Positioned between the recessed portions 42, I provide a; boss 43which'joins the rib 40 and includes a portion :44 which is flush withthe base of the device. In the boss 43, I provide arecess 45 whichcommunicates with an aperture 46 which extends through the rib-40.

Spaced on each side of the aperture 46 and extending rearwardly from theribs 40 and joining the 'rearwall 37,-I-provide ribs 47 whose loweredges are flush with the base of the device.

Spaced from the rib 40 tothe rear thereof I provide a rib 48 whichjoins: the ribs 47' and the bottom of which is flush with the base ofthe device.

Positioned intermediate: the rib 40 and the rib 48, 1 provide a rib 49which extends downwardly to a point on a plane with the axis of theaperture 46 and includes an arcuate recessed portion 50 which has aradius corresponding to the radius of the aperture46.

Adapted to'be positioned in the aperture 46, I provide a=reflectormember 51 which includes a metal shell'52 having an annular groove 53therein adjacent the'rear end and an enlarged rim 54 adjacent the frontfrom which a glass lens 55 projects. The shelleportion 52 of thereflector 51 is positioned in the aperture 46 and in the recess 50 ofthe rib 40 and the rear end of the-shell engages the rib 48.

To retain the reflector 51 in position I provide a holder member 57which includes atransverse plate 58 and side legs 59 which are taperedfrom the front to the rear. The holder 57 is of a height equal to thedistance from the base of the device to' the lower'end'of the rib 49 andincludes an arcuate recess 60 similar to the recess 50 of the rib 49.When the holder 57 is placed in an operative position the arcuatesurface of the recess 60 engages the face of the groove 53 in thereflector shell 52, the plate portion 58 engages the ribs 47 and thelegs 59 engage the rib 40, and the bottom of the holder is flush withthe base of the device. Thus it will be seen that the holder legs 59pull the reflector back in place and tighten the shoulder reflectoragainst the rib 40.

In the recessed portions 42, I provide a plurality of apertures 61 inwhich reflector members 62 are adapted to be positioned. As shown thereflector members 62 are similar to the reflector members 24 of thedevice 10 and include a metal base 63 having a reduced glass portion 64extending therefrom. The reflectors 62 are positioned in position withthe glass portion thereof extending through the apertures 61 and thebase 63 engaging the inner surface of the recessed portion 42.

To retain the reflector members 62 in position, I provide holder members65, one for each group of reflectors. As shown each holder 65 includes aplate portion 66 having spaced legs 67 extending therefrom rearwardlyand downwardly. The legs 67 and the front face of the plate portion 66of the holder members 65 are tapered from the bottom front rearwardlysimilar to the legs 59 of the holder member 5'7.

When the holder members 65 are placed in position the plate portions 66thereof engage the rear surfaces of the base 63 of the reflectors 62 andthe rear portions of the legs 67 engage the rib 40 and the bottoms ofthe legs are flush with the base of the device while the tops of theplates 66-engage the bottoms of a plurality of ribs 68 which areprovided above the recessed portion 42 between the rib 40 and the frontwall.

The plate portions 66 of the holder members 65 like the plate portion 28of the holder 27 in the device 10 are slightly flexible so that they mayflex to take care of any irregularities in the distance the bases of thereflectors extend rearwardly, thereby assuring a pressure on all of thereflector members. Thus it will be seen that when the device 35 issecured in an operative position the holder members will retain thereflector members 62 in position.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, I have indicated a modified form' of the devicelOgenerally at 70. As shown the device 70 is similar to the device 10 andthe parts thereof are similarly numbered except that in place of therecessed portion 22, I provide an elongated aperture 71 in the wall ofthe device 70. Engaging the inner surface of the walls 13 adjacent theaperture 71, I provide a member 72 which has a concave outer face whoseouter edges match with the edges of the aperture 71 wherefrom from theexterior the device 70 appears similar to the device 10. As shown themember 72 is provided with an apertured lug- 73 adjacent each end whichare secured to the body 12by bolts 74. The member 72 is provided with aplurality of apertures 75 in which the glass portions of the reflectors26 are positioned and the reflectors 26 are retained in position bytheholder member 27 in the same manner as in the device 10.

If desired the lugs 73 and the bolts 74 may be omitted and the member 72retained in an operative position merely by the holder member 27.

In Figs. 12 and 13, I have indicated a modified form of the device 35generally at 80. As shown the device is similar to the device 35 and theparts thereof are similarly numbered except for the modified form of therecessed portions 42 and the boss 43. In the device 80, I provide anelongated aperture 81 in the front face of the device and adjacent therear thereof I provide a member 82 which is shown as secured to the body36 by a plurality of screws 83. As shown the member 82 includes spacedconcave portions 84 and a central portion 85 which takes the place ofthe lower half of the boss 43 and includes a semicylindrical recess 86which matches with a similar recess 87 in the boss 43. The reflectormember 51 is positioned in the recesses 86 and 87 and retained inposition by the holder 57 in the same manner as in the device 35.

In each of the concave portions 84, I provide a plurality of apertures88 in which the glass portions of the reflectors 62 are positioned andthe reflectors 62 are retained in position by the holders 65 in the samemanner as in the device 35.

If desired the screws 83 may be omitted and the member 82 retained in anoperative position merely by the holders 65.

Insteadof the reflectors 24 and 62, I may provide glass members whichhave no base'and may place back of the members 24 and 62 an elongatedmirror which may be a reflecting surface on the front of the plates 28or 66, so that the light passes through the lens members 24 and 62,strikes the reflector plates 28 or 66 and is reflected back.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have providedan improved traffic marker which is simple in construction and highlyefficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a traflic marker, a hollow body having a recessed boss therein,and having an abutment member in the rear of said recess, a reflectormember, said reflector member including a shell having an annular groovetherein adjacent one end and having an enlarged rim adjacent theopposite end, said reflector being positioned in said boss recess, and aretaining member, said retaining member including a front portionengaging said body and a rear portion fitting said angular groove andengaging a wall of said groove to urge the end of said shell against theabutment member.

2. In a traffic marker, a hollow body portion, said body being elongatedand including parallel front and rear portions with arcuate ends, topand sides, a rib, said rib being spaced from the front wall of said bodyand extending longitudinally thereof from end to end, said rib extendingdownwardly from said top and terminating adjacent to the bottom of saidbody, an angularly arranged rib adjacent each end of said body extendingfrom said first rib rearwardly to the rear portion and extendingdownwardly and terminating adjacent to the bottom of the body, a boss, apair of transverse ribs spaced one on each side of said boss andextending from said longitudinal rib rearwardly to the rear portion andextending downwardly to a point flush with the base of said device, anabutment rib, said abutment rib being parallel with said longitudinalrib and connecting said transverse ribs and being spaced at the rear ofsaid longitudinal rib.

3. In a, traflic marker, a hollow elongated body portion includingparallel front and rear portions with arcuate ends, top, and sides, arib, said rib being spaced from the front wall of said body andextending longitudinally thereof from end to end, said rib extendingfrom the top downwardly to a point flush with the base of said device,an angularly arranged rib adjacent each end of said body extending fromsaid first rib rearwardly to the rear portion and extending downwardlyto a point flush with the base of said device, a pair of spaced recessedportions in the front wall of said body, the rear walls of said recessedportions being spaced from said longitudinal rib, a boss on said body,said boss ex tending from the front wall to said longitudinal rib, therebeing a recess in said boss opening through the front of said body,there being a reduced aperture in said boss communicating" with saidboss recess and extending through said longitudinal rib, a pair oftransverse ribs spaced one at each side of said boss and extending fromsaid longitudinal rib rearwardly to the rear portion and extendingdownwardly to a point flush with the base of said device, an abutmentrib, said abutment rib being parallel with said longitudinal rib andconnecting said transverse ribs and being spaced from the rear of saidlongitudinal rib, a reflector member, said reflector member including ashell positioned in said boss recess with said shell extending throughsaid boss aperture and with the rear end thereof engaging said abutmentrib and means to hold said reflector in position.

RAYMOND H. OSBRINK.

